LIST OF SUGGESTED ACTIONS TO IMPROVING ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOODS IN EEYOU ISTCHEE Note: Please note that this list has been prepared to provide ideas of actions which can be undertaken to improve access to nutritious food in Eeyou Istchee. Of course, other actions may also be relevant. CBHSSJB Areas of Intervention/Organizations Level of Intervention Comments Ensure implementation and respect of Nutrition : CBHSSJB Serve healthy meals and snacks to patients and staff Implement Traditional Food (in CHB food services establishments) Develop Traditional Food butchery service for CHB food services & other public establishments (e.g. elders homes, daycares) Offer hygiene & foods safety training Develop & support implementation of Health Promotion programs s (Stores, Restaurants, etc.) Offer a variety of nutrition & health promotion programs (e.g. s cooking workshops for families and youth, collective kitchen, gardening workshops, etc.) Promote healthy eating in media s Support development of Health Policies, Guidelines s (e.g. School Health, Healthy meeting guidelines, ) Fund local educational initiatives related to nutrition and healthy HEAL program lifestyles (e.g. cooking workshops, community gardening, etc.) Daycares Ensure implementation and respect of Nutrition : Daycare Serve healthy lunch & snacks to children Prohibit low nutritious foods in daycares / Implement Daycare Nutrition Education CBHSSJB Existing Need to be implemented CSB & Schools Develop & implement a school health policy/ No junk food policy CSB Prohibit low nutritious foods in schools and kids & youth events (sport, cultural, etc.) Provide healthy breakfast, lunch or snack programs (if needed) s Some programs exist but not everywhere Implement nutrition education program, Drop the Pop, gardening program, etc. CBHSSJB & CSB s Some programs exist, some need to be developed/implemented Teach food preparation in Cree culture classes CSB Ensure program respect school health policy Include health education in school curriculum CSB Offer healthy after-school cooking program CSB Some programs exist Need to ensure program is universal & respect school health policy
CNG, Regional Youth Council & CHRD Restrict low nutritious foods from being served in public buildings, or purchased with public funds Prohibit low nutritious foods in kids & youth events (sport, cultural, etc.) Develop and oversee adoption of Framework for Action to improve access to nutritious food in Eeyou Istchee Develop a Regional Food Network (for businesses & organizations) - Negotiate food prices & transportation fees - Inspect and enforce local regulation on healthy food - Ensure regular maintenance of equipment Ensure presence of at least one adequate grocery store per community Support the development and implementation of by-laws to improve access to nutritious foods in food retail businesses Offer training in management of healthy food businesses (e.g. management practices, waste reduction, laws & by-laws, food safety & hygiene, nutrition, development of social economy) Band Offices/Public Buildings/Recreation Centers Implement a no junk food & sweet beverages policy in Recreation Centers and other Public Buildings Restrict low nutritious foods from being served in public buildings, or purchased with public funds Prohibit low nutritious foods in kids & youth events (sport, cultural, etc.) Ensure water quality in community (tap water) Promote use of tap water Increase public access to water: Install water fountains in public buildings Ensure maintenance & cleaning of water fountains Ensure presence of at least one adequate grocery store per community Develop and implement local by-laws to improve access to nutritious foods in food retail businesses Ensure all businesses/individuals selling foods have permits Create buffer zones restricting fast food around schools and recreation areas (*grandfather clause) Initiative/ CHRD s Initiative Management team to be created
Restrict marketing of low nutritious food where children gather Sports Centers, Schools Distribute health foods and drinks in food assistance programs (e.g. community freezer, food banks, food vouchers or collective kitchens for families in need, meals on wheels) s Build greenhouses to supply fresh produces Ensure presence of a traditional camp near the community (i.e. teaching of hunting & fishing, traditional food preparation, service of traditional foods during community meals) Organize community hunting and fishing activities Development Corporations (Local & Regional) Support development of social economy (e.g. berry & plants picking coop) Support development of businesses that gather, produce, distribute, and sell local foods (e.g. berry & plants picking, blueberry farm, transformation of local food products) Support development of businesses that sell healthy foods (e.g. Healthy food stores or restaurants) Stores Implement Store Health Promotion program Ensure regular maintenance of equipments Participate in voluntary engagement program for businesses (e.g. Melior) Obligation to provide basic nutritious foods (Minimum supply list) Offer basic nutritious foods items at the same price than Montreal Obligation for all businesses/individuals to have a permit from the Band to sell food in the community Obligation to have a permit to sell food Prohibit sale of energy drinks (for all, or at least for under 18) Store layout: Modify layout to emphasize healthy food choices Improve visibility of healthy foods & reduce visibility of junk foods Limit space allocated to junk foods (e.g. sweet beverages & soft drinks, chips, candies) Prohibit junk food near cash registry (e.g. Sweet beverages & soft drinks, chips ) Prohibit fried foods in ready-to-eat counters Prohibit strategic placement of junk food at children s eye level (e.g. candies and chocolate bars near cash registry, sugary cereals) Pricing: Initiative /Store /Store /Store Store initiatives Revocable permit in case of non compliance
Implement pricing policy: reduce price of healthy foods & increase price of fast foods Implement law on maximum price of milk Obligation to display prices on food items or on the shelf Obligation to respect store promotion (e.g. weekly specials) Prohibit specials on junk foods (in store or on flyer) Food safety & hygiene: Ensure staff have received mandatory training in Food Safety & Hygiene (Staff must be Certified Food Handlers) Obligation to respect expiry dates and discard expired foods ( e.g. remove foods from shelves, prohibit sale or discount of expired items) Protection of the Environment : Prohibit food waste Give to food bank, collective kitchens, etc. (when available) Prohibit use of plastic bags/ Promote use of reusable bags Prohibit use or sale of styrofoam containers Obligation to have mandatory bottle/can deposit in stores Transportation: Ensure adequate transportation to ensure freshness of foods upon their delivery (Maintain adequate temperature) Negotiate transportation cost for healthy foods Offer preferential transportation rates on essential food items (i.e. basic nutritious foods) Subsidize transportation of perishable nutritious foods in isolated communities (Whapmagoostui/Kuujarapik) Suppliers: Ensure supply of nutritious foods Ensure freshness of foods provided Restaurants Implement Healthy restaurant guidelines (e.g. reduce portion sizes, offer healthier alternatives to French fries, offer healthy children s meals, etc.) Identify healthier options on the menu Participate in a voluntary engagement program for businesses (e.g. Melior) Store Policies (Règlement sur les prix du lait de consommation, RLRQ c M-35.1, r 2016) (Consumer Protection Act, CQLR c P-40.1) / Store / Store / Store / Store / Store (Recycle-Qc) Federal (Nutrition North Canada) / Eeyou Istchee is currently excluded. Need to request inclusion. Existing Qc law Store managers need to be informed of their obligation
Obligation for all businesses/individuals to have a permit from the Band to sell food in the community Obligation to have a permit to sell food Ensure staff have received mandatory training in Food Safety & Hygiene (Staff must be Certified Food Handlers) Prohibit sale of energy drinks (for all, or at least for under 18) Prohibit use of plastic bags & styrofoam containers Obligation to have containers for bottle/can deposit CWEIA Encourage women involvement in development of collective kitchen, community kitchen, community food banks, community freezers, meals on wheels, etc. Women entrepreneurship: Support development of social economy (e.g. berry & plants picking coop) Women entrepreneurship: Support development of businesses that gather, produce, distribute, and sell local foods (e.g. berry & plants picking, blueberry farm, transformation of local food products) Women entrepreneurship: Support development of businesses that sell healthy foods (e.g. Healthy food stores or restaurants) CTA Serve healthy foods to CTA members & community members Promote consumption of traditional food Promote safe food preparation practices and hunting practices Offer training and expertise in safe food preparation practices and hunting practices Organize community hunting and fishing activities Encourage CTA members to contribute to CBHSSJB Traditional Food or other community programs (e.g. Food Bank, Community Freezer) COTA Serve healthy foods to members & participants Promote consumption of traditional food Promote safe food preparation practices and hunting practices s Need to be a revocable permit in case of non compliance